Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program | FOA WB 22 15

Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA WB 22 15

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau discretionary grant designed to increase women’s entry into, and long-term success within, apprenticeable and other nontraditional occupations. The program focuses on practical, employer- and union-facing technical assistance that helps workplaces and training pipelines recruit, prepare, and retain women in fields where they have been historically underrepresented or where they tend to be clustered in lower-wage roles. Rather than simply funding direct job placement, WANTO supports the infrastructure and support systems that make participation in these careers more accessible and sustainable for women over time.

The grant’s technical assistance activities center on three main approaches. First, applicants can develop, expand, or strengthen pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or other nontraditional skills training programs that specifically prepare women for careers in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations. This can include building or improving training pathways, aligning training with industry needs, and helping employers and unions implement or upgrade programs that open doors for women. Second, the program supports ongoing orientations and resources for employers, labor unions, and workers that address how to create an environment where women can succeed, which may include education and guidance on workplace culture, policies, and practices that influence recruitment, on-the-job learning, safety, and advancement. Third, WANTO encourages the creation of support systems aimed at retention, such as support groups, peer networks, and supportive services that help women stay and progress in these occupations, recognizing that retention barriers can be as significant as entry barriers.

WANTO-funded efforts may be applied across a wide range of industries as long as the focus remains on occupations where women are underrepresented or concentrated in lower-paying roles. The opportunity specifically notes that relevant sectors can include advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, health care, information technology, finance, and transportation, among others. This broad scope allows applicants to tailor technical assistance to regional labor markets and employer demand while still keeping the central goal in view: improving women’s participation and outcomes in nontraditional career pathways.

Eligibility is limited to community-based organizations (CBOs) as defined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. The source data also indicates eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and certain other entities as clarified in the FOA, but the key gatekeeping requirement is that the applicant meet the CBO definition. Applications were required to be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 20, 2022.

Administratively, this opportunity is a grant (Funding Opportunity Number FOA WB 22 15) under CFDA 17.701, categorized under Education. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, with an estimated six awards expected. The program was posted/created on May 11, 2022, and is administered by the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau.

• The Department of Labor, Womens Bureau in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.701.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 11, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2022 Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for FOA WB 22 15

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